2019 SWAT Award Winners
Outstanding Industry Partnership Award
Region of Peel and the Regional Municipality of York, Canada
The Peel and York regions’ Water Smart Irrigation Professional Certification Program aims to reduce water waste and peak water demand in two of the fastest-growing regions of Canada. Program staff train irrigation professionals on best management practices, performing irrigation system assessments using a new and improved tool, and marketing and promotional techniques to drive water-efficient retrofits.
The program’s 82 certified contractors have performed over 600 assessments to date with confirmed savings of over 100 million gallons of water. In addition, the regions estimate a 31-ton reduction of carbon dioxide emissions attributed to treatment and distribution of the saved water.
Outstanding Public Engagement Award
Fort Collins Utilities (Fort Collins, Colorado)
Fort Collins Utilities’ residential sprinkler audit program educates customers on efficient landscape watering through one-on-one engagement with their residents. The utility performs irrigation assessments and develops personalized audit reports with recommendations to help customers reduce inefficiencies in their sprinkler systems that lead to water waste.
Since the program began in 1999, Fort Collins Utilities has provided over 6,000 free residential sprinkler audits and saved the community over 68 million gallons of water. The program staff stays up to date on irrigation technology advancements, incorporating new products into the rebate and education components of the program.